Jainism in Rajasthan

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JAINISM IN RAJASTHAN
benefit or relief of humanity. Such humanitarian works and activities of the Jainas created a very healthy atmosphere in the region and inspired others, who were equally well placed in life to follow the noble and lofty example. Thus they preached not by precepts but by practice. It is no exaggeration to say that the general philanthiopic tendency of the wealthy magnates of Rajasthan is due to the influence Jainism has exercised during the last twelve hundred years on the people of this area.
The Jaina community as a whole is strictly vegetarian. This has had a very healthy influence on the entire population. The Vaisyas and the Brāhmaṇas, who came into their contact, became strictly vegetarian in Rajasthan whereas those of Bihar, U.P. and Punjab are mostly non-vegetarian.
The masses of this state are also practically vegetarians. Even the Jats mostly avoid meat eating. The Rājputs, whose profession has been fighting, are non-vegetarian; but among them also, there are quite a number of people who are vegetarians. The Jaina practice of feeding and sustaining the birds and ants has been adopted widely by the Hindu community also. In fact, so far as the life and conduct of the majority of people is concerned, there is no difference between a Jaina and non-Jaina. Ethically and morally, they are all one and in the upper strata of society except of course Rājputs, it is not easy to distinguish between the general way of life of a Jaina or a Hindu. It is only when we probe a man as to his ancestral or personal faith, then alone we can identify a Jaina otherwise their living and thinking are much alike.
The principle of ahlinsā is mainly a Jaina doctrine. It has a place in Hinduism wherein its history is long and continuous but it is Jainism which lays particular emphasis on it. In fact, this stress on ahımsā has been the main argument of the Jainas against popular Hinduism whose protagonists found no point of defence when faced by Jaina teachers. This is why Jainism made such a rapid progress during and after the reign of Harsha and became very popular in Rajasthan especially among the upper classes from the eleventh century onwards. In every day life, ahimsū is the guiding principle and regulating force in Rajasthan. Ahimsā as understood and practised today in this state is mainly the Jaina doctrine, though of course, it was never foreign to the essential principles of Brāhmanism. The Hindu attitude towards Jainism has been one of sympathy and tolerance. The Rājput rulers have respected the Jaina Sūdhus and patronized Jaina community and the difference